MARKET DAYS. 333 



that independence of character which springs from their occu- 

 pation. The commercial intercourse of these fairs would supply 

 just what is wanting to many of our farmers ; it would liberalize 

 their views and enlarge the sphere of their observation, and as 

 a necessary consequence agricultural knowledge would be 

 advanced. Indeed these fairs would become a school for the 

 young farmer, and for all farmers who were not too old to learn. 

 The various breeds of stock could here be learned, their points 

 noted, their peculiar marks of excellence ascertained, and avast 

 amount of experience and information in regard to them gained. 

 Trained in such a school, our farmers would become much 

 better judges than they now are, of farm stock. And will any 

 one pretend that it is not vital to the interests of the farmer to 

 be able to judge of a good cow or of a good pair of working 

 cattle, so as to be seldom disappointed in making his purchases ? 

 Should he not here as in other transactions be able to think for 

 himself, and if need be to give a reason for his opinion ? Will 

 he not at least have more self-respect and command better the 

 respect of others, than by a blind and hap-hazard way of doing 

 his business ? 



The farmer needs to be well versed in the knowledge of buy- 

 ing and selling, and this knowledge can be acquired only by 

 observation and the exercise of his own faculties. Many farmers 

 fail here. They raise good crops and they harvest them in good 

 order ; but when they come to dispose of them they are at fault ; 

 they are either too early or too late in making sales, and have 

 usually the worst end of the bargain. Now why is this ? 

 Mainly for want of practical experience in trade. The narrow 

 round of their customers gives no opportunity for them to learn, 

 and they go through life with but little skill in this the financial 

 department of husbandry. The establishing of market-days, by 

 collecting large numbers of buyers at one place, and by the 

 competition excited thereby, would give to the farmer more tact 

 in trading than it is possible for him now to acquire. 



In the last place, these market days or fairs would tend to 

 concentrate New England farming upon fewer products, by 

 making near and certain markets for them. As it is now, our 

 farm products are too varied ; we raise a little of every thing, 

 and not enough of any one thing to malvC it profitable, from the 

 expense of disposing of them. Of many articles raised on the 



